Electronics for everybody using Arduino: Positive experience in the implementation of hardware-software solutions

Abstract

This paper presents experiences for the development of Arduino projects of Computing Engineering students of the Viña del Mar University in Chile in a module (course) of their formative process. The computing and electronic areas usually consider different formative courses without presenting a clear hegemony in the teaching process. There exists low development of competences to produce solutions combining hardware and software for the signal processing, barriers that Arduino permits reducing in a high degree. This article highlights that in just six weeks, the students of Computing Engineering of the Viña del Mar University were able to develop competences for the use of Arduino to implement prototype systems for the acquisition of environmental variables. This is just a proof that electronics and computing are more accessible for everybody nowadays, with low barriers of cost and learning.